The Pakistan cricket team has expressed discomfort regarding certain venues and opponents during the upcoming ODI World Cup in India. They are hesitant to play against Afghanistan in Chennai and Australia in Bengaluru. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has requested suggestions from member boards, including the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), before finalizing the tournament schedule. The PCB has assigned their data, analytics, and team strategy experts to approve the venues proposed by the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
According to a PCB source, the selectors and team management have reservations about playing Afghanistan in spin-friendly Chennai, where they would face skilled spinners like Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad. Additionally, the source mentioned that the selectors believe Bengaluru’s conditions are favorable for batting and find it hard to understand Pakistan’s concerns about playing Australia there.
The source suggested requesting a rescheduling of Pakistan’s matches, proposing that they play Afghanistan in Bengaluru and Australia in Chennai, considering the team’s strengths. However, a BCCI source explained that venue changes require strong reasons and are typically considered for safety purposes. They emphasized the importance of not altering venues based on a team’s preferences, as it complicates finalizing the schedule.
Also read: ICC ODI World Cup 2023: Schedule Delayed Due to Pakistan
The PCB recently announced a revamped national selection committee that includes experts in analytics and team strategy. They plan to heavily rely on data and analytics to develop match strategies. The decision on playing the high-profile match against India in Ahmedabad is expected to be finalized by the government.
Pakistan’s initial two qualifying matches are scheduled in Hyderabad, and they are also expected to play in Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad during the World Cup.